The bike lane on Mission Road north of Cesar Chavez Avenue pass through multiple auto repair yards, and is heavily used by freight trucks. Kris Fortin/LAStreetsblog

About a month ago as I was passing Mission Road on the 7o Metro bus, and I had to do a double take when I saw the bike lane painted on the road. Mission Road between Cesar Chavez Avenue and Marengo Street is one of the busiest corridors because of its proximities to multiple freeways and its a heavily used route by freight trucks. It is also a route that gives the smoothest connection between Boyle Heights and the North East Los Angeles neighborhoods since it has a gradual incline and a wide road, as opposed to roads like Soto Street that are tight, windy and have multiple hills.

The Mission Road bike lane stretches north past Marengo Street, but I wasn’t able to see where it ends. I’ll be revisiting this bike lane and another one on Eighth Street, parallel to Wyvernwood and Estrada Courts, in the coming weeks for a fuller report.

Poured Asphalt makes the gutter a smoother ride than riding directly over the bike lane. Kris Fortin/LAStreetsblogStarting from Marengo Street headed South on Mission Road, the lane is uneven from poured asphalt and has trash left on the sidewalk. Kris Fortin/LAStreetsblogSidewalk heading South on Mission Road. The sidewalks are overgrown and bulge from its trees on the westside of Mission Road. Kris Fortin/LAStreetsblogKris Fortin/LAStreetsblogAbout the last quarter mile of the bike lane headed south on Mission Road was paved and smooth. Kris Fortin/LAStreetsblog

Buses entering at this Cesar Chavez Avenue and Mission Road stop cross through the bike lane. Kris Fortin/LAStreetsblogThe bike lane headed north is almost completely paved, but passes by multiple auto repair stores, a Metro facility, and the Interstate 5 and 10 freeway entrances on its right side. Kris Fortin/LAStreetsblogKris Fortin/LAStreetsblogAround 4 p.m., of the six cyclists I saw pass by, half of them road on the sidewalk. And in comparisson to the other side of the street, the eastside sidewalk of Mission road is wide, and even. Kris Fortin/LAStreetsblog

It’s a connection for a lot of things. Trucks coming from the southern factories, a connection to multiple neighborhoods, and the hospital, etc. For a road that has so much space, it gets bottled necked so quickly too. I have to spend more time there, but even when the roads were somewhat clear, they would still ride on the sidewalks (just not the sidewalks heading south. It’s like a mountain range)

ubrayj02

I live right by these new lanes. They start at the intersection of Mission and Valley (sort of out of nowhere) and continue until the intersection with Cesar Chavez (aka Brooklyn).

This would be an ideal place for some sort of barrier protected cycle track IF: the lanes connected with Huntington Drive, the lanes connected with something going into Downtown, and the lanes were maintained and not a debris field (which they are quickly turning into on this stretch).

Still, I have ridden them by myself and it is hard not to feel like the city is getting better and better every day in some small ways (and despite its many problems).

Waltarrrrr

One of my favorite bike lanes of the LA Bike Plan so far. Riding that stretch was always a harrowing experience with the industrial trucks and freeway cut-through traffic. Seeing the bike lanes there are like a dream come true.

El Batmanuel

The bike lane is a great idea, but it was executed very poorly. The section inbetween the 5 and chavez is tge worst bike lane in LA. The bike lane puts cyclist in the gutter and we’re forced to ride over the worst part of the road. The asphalt is uneven, harsh and the potholes were poorly filled. There’s loose gravel, asphalt, and broken glass everywhere. I would rather take the lane than be forced to ride in the rough gutter, but now there’s a bike lane so I don’t have that option anymore.

George Smith

This is cool. Now we can have a peace of mind and safety ride. Thanks for all the efforts.

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